Sinnott family aims for ‘Fittest Family’ accolade
A WEXFORD family, who live in Kilmore, had their first run out on the latest series of ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’, the first episode of which aired on Sunday night.
The Sinnott family is Lindsey and James, and their two sons Jordan (17) and Nile (16), and they enjoyed a successful first run in the show at the weekend when they performed very well on a 2km beach run course, and a high-wire course on the Irish Life building in Dublin.
The family will be hoping to emulate the success of the O’Connor family from Rathnure who, last year, made it all the way to the final. This year’s mentors include Donnacha O’Callaghan, Anna Geary, Derval O’Rourke, and Wexford senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald, who created the Ireland’s Fittest Family concept.
Lindsey explained that the family had decided to throw their names in the ring after watching the show during the last season and collectively agreeing that they would be able for the challenge. After applying, they attended a fitness test in Athlone and were selected as one of 60 families on the short list. After another fitness test, they made it to the final 20 and secured a television spot.
Lindsey (35) is a mother of six, with the kids ranging in age from 17 down to just 18 months old.
‘I used to play soccer and GAA but not anymore. My sons do parkour so I did a bit of that with them but, really, my fitness comes from running around after six kids!’
Her husband James (45) was the one who sent in the application for the show. His own sports background is in cross-country running, which he has done for a long time and is generally fit.
Jordan (17) and Nile (16) are both into parkour free-running. They attended the CBS Primary School and subsequently Bridgetown Vocational College when the family moved from town out to Kilmore. Jordan completed his Leaving Cert last year and Nile is in fifth year at the moment. Jordan also played soccer, for a few series, with Kilmore United.
James and Lindsey are self-employed, running a customised clothing and branding business from their home in Kilmore. This, they said, gives them the freedom to work to their own hours, and juggle between training, work and family life.
Lindsey said: ‘We’re not a typical sporty family but it was a brilliant experience. We can’t say how we got on but we did better than we thought we would. The coaches are all very nice and friendly. The production team, Adam McGarry and Jessica McGurk, were really helpful as well and my sister Tanya (Fenelon) did a lot of baby-sitting of the other four kids while we were off doing different events.’
This year’s show features lots of new challenges and activities, some of which Lindsey said were not for the faint-hearted! Sunday’s challenge on the Irish Life building was a stickler for Nile who is afraid of heights but he ploughed through with a great performance.
The Sinnott family is through to the next round of the programme which airs on Sunday evenings.
WE CAN’T SAY HOW WE GOT ON BUT WE DID BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT WE WOULD